Nyssa tree named ‘BBN-01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nyssa  tree named ‘BBN-01’, characterized by its broadly ovate tree form with outwardly branching habit; vigorous growth habit; upright central leader with relatively large caliper and numerous lateral branches providing a full and densely foliated appearance; large glossy dark green-colored leaves that are initially deep red when developing and becoming dark green during the summer and turning reddish orange, red and dark red in color during the autumn; and green-colored leaf petioles variably tinged with dark red.

Botanical designation: Nyssa sylvatica.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBN-01’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant hereby assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant. Inventor/Applicant claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nyssa tree, botanically known as Nyssa sylvatica, commercially referred to as Upland Tupelo or Black Gum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BBN-01’.

The new Nyssa tree originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Warren County, Tenn. of an unnamed selection of Nyssa sylvatica, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Nyssa tree was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled nursery environment in Warren County, Tenn. during the summer of 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Nyssa tree by chip budding in a controlled environment in McMinnville, Tenn. since March, 2017, has shown that the unique features of this new Nyssa tree are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Trees of the new Nyssa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BBN-01’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BBN-01’ as a new and distinct Nyssa tree:

-   -   1. Broadly ovate tree form with outwardly branching habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Upright central leader with relatively large caliper and         numerous lateral branches providing a full and densely foliated         appearance.     -   4. Large glossy dark green-colored leaves that are initially         deep red when developing and becoming dark green during the         summer and turning reddish orange, red and dark red in color         during the autumn.     -   5. Green-colored leaf petioles variably tinged with dark red.

Trees of the new Nyssa can be compared to trees of the female parent selection. Trees of the new Nyssa differ primarily from trees of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Trees of the new Nyssa are more vigorous, taller and have         larger caliper branches than trees of the female parent         selection.     -   2. Trees of the new Nyssa have larger leaves than trees of the         female parent selection.     -   3. Trees of the new Nyssa have dark green-colored leaves that         are initially deep red when developing and turning orangish red,         red and dark in color during the autumn whereas trees of the         female parent selection have green-colored leaves turning         yellowish red in color during the autumn.

Trees of the new Nyssa can be compared to trees of the male parent, ‘Wildfire’. Trees of the new Nyssa differ primarily from trees of ‘Wildfire’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Trees of the new Nyssa are more vigorous, taller and have         larger caliper branches than trees of ‘Wildfire’.     -   2. Trees of the new Nyssa have larger leaves than trees of         ‘Wildfire’.     -   3. Trees of the new Nyssa have dark green-colored leaves that         are initially deep red when developing and turning orangish red,         red and dark red in color during the autumn whereas trees of         ‘Wildfire’ have dark green-colored leaves with red-colored         apices.

Trees of the new Nyssa can be compared to trees of Nyssa sylvatica ‘The James’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,473. Trees of the new Nyssa and ‘The James’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Trees of the new Nyssa are more vigorous, taller and have         larger caliper branches than trees of ‘The James’.     -   2. Trees of the new Nyssa have larger leaves than trees of ‘The         James’.     -   3. Trees of the new Nyssa have dark green-colored leaves that         are initially deep red when developing and turn orangish red,         red and dark red in color during the autumn whereas trees of         ‘The James’ have dark green-colored leaves that are light green         when developing and turning orangish red in color during the         autumn.

Trees of the new Nyssa can also be compared to trees of Nyssa sylvatica ‘Nsuhh’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,951. Trees of the new Nyssa and ‘Nsuhh’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Trees of the new Nyssa are more vigorous, taller and have         larger caliper branches than trees of ‘Nsuhh’.     -   2. Trees of the new Nyssa have larger leaves than trees of         ‘Nsuhh’.     -   3. Trees of the new Nyssa have dark green-colored leaves that         are initially deep red when developing and turning orangish red,         red and dark red in color during the autumn whereas trees of         ‘Nsuhh’ have dark green-colored leaves that are lighter green         when developing and turning orangish red in color during the         autumn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Nyssa tree showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Nyssa tree.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of typical trees of ‘BBN-01’ grown during the early summer in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of leaves of a typical tree of ‘BBN-01’ grown during the late spring.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe trees grown in 7-gallon containers in outdoor nurseries in Park Hill, Okla. and Fort Worth, Tex. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Nyssa tree production. Trees used in the photographs and description were three years old. During the production of the trees, day temperatures averaged 33° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Nyssa sylvatica ‘BBN-01’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Nyssa             sylvatica, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By chip budding the new Nyssa tree onto an unnamed             selection of Nyssa sylvatica understock. -   Tree description:     -   -   Tree form and growth habit.—Deciduous tree with broadly             ovate form with outwardly branching habit; vigorous growth             habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches             providing a full and densely foliated appearance; about 41             primary lateral branches per tree and secondary branches             potentially developing at every node.         -   Tree height.—About 2.15 meters.         -   Tree width (spread).—About 73 cm.         -   Trunk caliper.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Branch angle orientation.—Mid-tree canopy branches, about             70° to about 90° from vertical.         -   Primary branch caliper.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Secondary branch caliper.—About 7.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4 cm on one-year old wood.         -   Lateral branch texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Mature bark texture.—Woody; smooth, glabrous.         -   Lateral branch color.—Close to 197A to 197B.         -   Mature bark color.—Close to 197B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Leaf buds, dormant.—Length: About 7.5 mm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color: Close to 187A.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 10.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.25 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical to obovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate with cuspidate tendencies.         -   Base.—Cuneate to obtuse.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Color.—When developing, upper surface: Close to 187A. When             developing, lower surface: Close to 187C. Fully developed,             upper surface: Darker and more green than 147A; in the             autumn, variable, close to N172B to N172C, 179A or             occasionally, close to 185A; venation, close to 146A. Fully             developed, lower surface: Close to 146A; in the autumn,             variable, close to N172D, 179B or 164A; venation, close to             145B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 144A variably overlain with close to             between 46A and 53A. Color, lower surface: Close to 145A             variably overlain with close to between 46A and 53A. -   Flower description: To date, flower initiation and development have     not been observed on trees of the new Nyssa. -   Temperature tolerance: Trees of the new Nyssa have been observed to     tolerate high temperatures about 43° C. and low temperatures about     −29° C. when grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 6. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, trees of the new Nyssa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Nyssa     trees. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Nyssa tree named ‘BBN-01’ as illustrated and described. 